Ski



July 4, 1939. c. l.. wHlTEFoRD SKI Filed Feb. l1. 1938 .Nmzh

INVENTOR A ORN EY Patented July 4, 1.939

UNITEDv STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to skis and has for an object to provide a durable; light weight metal ski.

Another object is to provide a ski of the above 5 type which may be stamped or formed from sheet metal, such as Dural and which is provided with a sharp side skiing edge.

Another object is to provide a metal ski of the above type which is arranged and constructed l to receive a standard foot binding.

.Another object is to provide a metal ski having sumcient strength and elasticity to .prevent the same from being distorted, cracked or broken u in normal use and in which all Asharp edges with 3i which the skier might come in contact are eliminated.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

2@ Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto. the invention itself may be better understood by referring to the following de- 25 scription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which a specific embodiment thereof has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

in the drawing:

. 3@ Fig. l is a side elevation of a ski embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; y Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken top plan view of the ski;

35 Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken along the line d-l of Fig. 3, showing the wooden foot support;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the ski; Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6--6 of 40 Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a partial section taken on the line 'l-'l of l'ig. 3.

In the following description and in the claims certain specific terms are used for convenience i5 in referring to various details of the invent` It is to be understood, however, that these terms are to be given as broad an interpretation as the state o the art will permit.

Referring to the drawing more in detail, the

50 ski in accordance with the present invention is shown as made of sheet metal having a bottom or skiing surface l@ which is of the usual and standard shape. It will be noted that'this bottom i0 is provided with a pair of longitudinally 55 extending grooves or channels il which are sub- (Cli 280-11.13)

stantially semi-circular in section and extend from the rear of the ski to a point near the iront thereof, terminating short of the marginal edge of the ski so as not to interfere with the subsequent forming operation. The grooves Il extend 0 parallel to the axis of the ski and are used to provide the necessary amount of guidance in soft snow as is well known in the art. The bottom l0, for the greater part of its length, is bowed upwardly by an amount such that the ski is nor- E@ mally straightened out when the weight of the skier is applied thereto. The front end lila of the ski is curved upwardly so as to ride over the snow.

The metal is bent upwardly along the sides oi the bottom l0 to form an upstanding side flange N on both sides thereof which extends from. the rear end of the ski along the sides and around the upturned front end. The ange may terminate short of the channels li to provide drainage openings lila for discharge of snow or other materials from the rear end of the ski. The metal is also bent downwardly to form an outer y downturned ilange i5 in contact with the flange i4. A two-ply ange is thus provided which strengthens and stiiens the ski. The outer flange l5 terminates in a sharp, skiing edge l, flush with the skiing sur-face l0. This edge i6 is provided in order to enable the ski to properly cut acrosstracksl in soft snow or to properly cut a path through the crust of hard snow.

The side lianges above mentioned have their greatest height at a point |511 (Fig. 1) where the foot support is positioned, tapering downwardly to a point lib near the rear end of the ski and to a point |5c near the iront end thereof. The side flanges may increase in height from the point l5c to the extreme front end ld'. The iiange thus provides the maximum rigidity in a longitudinal direction at the points required. Theun@ maximum bending moment occurs at the point where the foot supports are located and for this reason the side ilanges are tapered from this point to the iront and rear of the ski. At the point ic, a maximum flexibility is required to i5 enable the ski to conform generally to the changing contours of the snow. For this reason the height of the side ilange is reduced at this point and increases around the front end of the ski in order to provide suiiioient strength to prevent (Si) blows at the front of the ski from distorting the upward curve. rlhe two thicknesses i4 and l5 or" the side flanges are held in intimate contact by any suitable means. In the form shown, these flanges are held in contact by spaced spot welds I8 which are located at various points along said flanges. It is tc be understood, however, that these flanges could be secured together by other means, such as rivets or continuous welding as may be desired.

The ski is provided with a ioot support 2@ which is preferably made of wood so as to re-l ceive the screws ordinarily used with the standard foot bindings. This foot support 263 is positioned between the two side flanges the ski and is of size and shape adapted to exactly nil the space between said side flanges so as to uniformly distribute the weight of 'the skier across the entire width and along a substantial portion o the length of the ski. The foot support is provided with front and back curved or sloped surfaces 2da and 2Gb, respectively, which have a suficient slope to prevent accumulations or snow or other material adjacent the foot support. it may be secured in position by rivets 2t which may extend through the side nanges. lt is to be understood, however, that other securing means may be used, such as screws or the like. The top surface of the ioot support is preferably made flat is arranged so that any standard type of foot binding may be attached thereto without varying the technique used in attaching such bindings to standard wooden skis.

The foot support may be treated with casein or other water proof material to water-proc the underside thereof before it is positioned in the ski. This prevents the material trom rotting due to seepage of water thereunder.

rihe metal ski may be completely termed and neat treated before the foot support is inserted therein. The severe forming operation required for producing the side flanges necessitates that the forming operation take place with the metal in workable condition. After the rnetal has been completely formed, however', it may be heat treated in order to impart the desired toughness and springiness thereto. The desired springiness and other characteristics of a standard quality wooden ski can be obtained by varying the thickness of stock, the composition of the alloy, the design of the flange, and the heat treatment. The finished ski will in any event, after heat treatment. have a surface hardness approximating structural steel. The edge I6 is accordingly extremely resistant to wear and will retain its sharp characteristics indefinitely.

In order to provide for the hanging or towing of the skis, a hole 25 is formed at the front portion Illa of the bottom I0. This hole 25 may be punched out of the metal of the ski, which may be curled over to form a ange 26 and to provide a rounded edge 21.

It will be noted that in this ski the entire top edge of the side flange is rounded and al1 sharp edges which would form a hazard are eliminated. The front end is rounded to eliminate the dangerous front point which is needed on wooden skis.

t has been found that a ski or this type may* be made considerably lighter thana standard wooden ski. A pair oi such skis may, for example, weigh approximately six; pounds as compared to 14 pounds for quality wooden skis. Furthermore, metal skis have no tendency to warp7 consequently no special care is required in putting the skis away, nor is it necessari,7 to subject the skis to waxing and dressing treatments as is custernary in connection with wooden Doral has been specifically referred to but it is to he understood that skis maymade of any iight weight rion-corroalin'1n alla While specific embodiment the invention has been shown or purposes oi. illustration, it is 'to understood that the invention is not tc be limited thereto, but is only to be restricted. in ac-u cordance with the following claims when interpreted in view oi' the prior What is claimed is:

l. A metal sin :formed of sheet rnetal having a bottoni portion shaped to provide a skiing surlace, said sheet metal being bent then downwardly to form twoply upstanding side :danges extending substantially entirely along the sides of said ski, the downturned ange being on the outside and terminating flush with the bottorn of the ski to form a sharp longitudinal skiing edge.

2. a metal ski, comprising a substantially flat bottom portion shaped to provide a skiing surface, upstanding side flanges formed integrally therewith, said side flanges comprising two plies formed by bending 'the metal upwardly and then outwardly and downwardly, said iianges having a rounded upper suriace, the outer flange terminating at the bottom in a sharp outer skiing edge flush with the skiing surface, said side flanges being widest at an intermediate portion. of the ski corresponding to the normal foot position and tapering in width toward the front and rear of the ski to provide the necessary strength and springiness.

3. A metal ski formed of sheet metal having a bottom portion shaped to provide a skiing surface, said sheet metal being bent upwardly and then downwardly to form two-ply upstanding side anges extending substantially entirely along the sides of said ski, the downturned flange being on the outside and terminating ush with the bottom o the ski to form a sharp longitudinal skiing edge and a foot support comprising a wooden block treated with water-proofing composition and positioned between said side anges, said foot support having a cross section such as to substantially ll said ski between said flanges and to distribute the weight of the foot across the entire Width of the ski and over a substantial portion of the length thereof, said wooden block having a substantially at upper surface adapted to receive the foot bindings.

CARLTON L. WHITEFORD.

las 

